Nine Piedmont rowers raced for Oakland Strokes at the 2026 USRowing Youth National Championships at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Florida, June 11 to 14, where the club won its 26th national championship. The national title came in the Men’s U17 8+, coached by Sean Gibel, which won Sunday’s grand final with a crew that was two-thirds first-year rowers.
A silver in the Men’s Youth 4-
Two Piedmont High School rowers led Oakland Strokes to silver in the Men’s Youth 4-: senior Senan Brodie at bow and junior Connor Cross in the three seat. Brodie is headed to the University of Pennsylvania in the fall to row on their lightweight crew. The four was coached by Jovan Jovanovic. Piedmont High School sophomore Diego Branneria also rowed bow in the men’s pair that won the B final to finish 9th overall.
Sean Gibel named Men’s head coach
Oakland Strokes also announced that Sean Gibel has been named the club’s Men’s Head Coach. The decision followed an extensive national and international search that produced strong candidates from across the country and abroad. In the end, the club concluded that the best person for the job was already at Oakland. Gibel coached the U17 8+ to the regional gold medal in May and to the national title in June. He takes over the men’s program with a deep junior class returning and a U17 group that has just proved it can win at the highest level.
Piedmont across the women’s boats
Five Piedmont High School rowers anchored Oakland Strokes women’s crews. Junior Sophia Brenner and senior Geneva Johnson, who rowed stroke, were in the top eight (1V), which finished 17th overall after a 0.4-second margin in the time trial sent the boat to the C final, where it won convincingly. The boat was coached by Allison Ray. Johnson has committed to row at Boston University in the fall. Senior Claire von Metzsch of the College Preparatory School, headed to Yale, rowed in the five seat of the same boat.
Sophomores Paige Young (bow) and Amelia Callaway (stroke) were in the third-eight crew that finished 11th overall as the fastest third-varsity eight in the country, coached by Emma Bernou. Senior Laurel Minor rowed in the club’s second eight, which finished 15th, coached by Isaac Bier. Minor will attend the University of Virginia in the fall.
“This weekend showed exactly where this program is headed,” said Allison Ray, the Oakland Strokes Director of Rowing. “We won a national title with a boat that’s two-thirds first-year rowers, and took silver in the four with three juniors returning. The future here is bright. The women’s crews showed that same depth and resilience, and proved they’re among the fastest boats in the country. Across both programs, this weekend reflected the strength of our athletes, our coaches, and the culture we keep building at Oakland Strokes.”
A pathway to college rowing
Oakland Strokes seniors keep rowing long after high school. Fifteen seniors from this year’s class will row in college this fall, at Boston University, Columbia, Cornell, Duke, Hobart, the University of Pennsylvania, Purdue, Tufts, the University of California Berkeley, UC San Diego, the University of San Diego, UNC Chapel Hill, Wesleyan, and Yale.
Looking ahead
The 2027 season starts now. Oakland Strokes is opening registration for summer camps and welcoming new athletes to the club. There is no rowing experience required.
Middle school and high school summer camps run in one- and two-week sessions in June, July, and August. The middle school year-round program is the strongest on-ramp to high school rowing in the East Bay. And the high school team offers a free two-week trial starting August 17 for incoming and returning students considering joining. Athletes who try those two weeks can decide from there.
Cost should not be a barrier to the sport. Oakland Strokes offers financial aid to support athletes who need it, and the club works to keep rowing open to any young person who wants to row. Families are encouraged to ask.
Information about all programs, registration links, and the free trial is available HERE